153 
The (jar den of pieafatit F lovers. 
and doth fo well refemble the bald crowne of a Frier,not or.ely before it be in flower, 
but efpecially after it hath done flowring, that thereupon it deferucdlv receiued the 
name of the Friers Crowne Fhiftle : out of thefe heads rifeth forth a purple thrummej 
£bch as is to be feene in many other wilde Thiftles, which when they are ripe, are tub 
ofa flockie or woolly fubftancc, which breakeat the toppe (bedding it, and th ■ feede 
which is blackifh, flat, and fmooth : the roote is great and thicke, enduring for 
forac y eaves, yet fometimes perifhing, if it be too much cxpofed to the violence of the 
froftsin Winter. 
The Place. 
The firft groweth naturally in Spaine, Italy,and France, and in many o- 
ther hot Countries ^ and growe onelyin Gardens in thefe colder climates, 
and there cherifhed for the beautifull afpedl both of the greenc plants , and 
of the ftalkes when they are in flower. The Carline Thiftlc is found both 
in Germany and Italy in many places, and as it is reported , in fotnc places 
of the Weft parts in England. Theothersarefoundfomein France, fome 
in Hungary,and on the Alpes, and the laft in Spaine. 
The Time. 
They doe all flower in the Summer moneths, 
then others. 
The Names. 
fome a little earlier or later 
The firft is called Acanthus fativus (becaufe the other that is prickly, is 
called [iluejiru or fpinofus) and Brunet i/rjina . InEngli(h,Branck vrfiney 
and Beares breech. The third is called Eringtum montanum, Alpinum, and 
Pannonicum latifolium-. In Engli(h,Mountaine or Hungary Sea Holly. The 
fourth is called Carduus mollis. The gentle Thiftlc, becaufe it hath no harm- 
full prickles, although it feeme at the firft fhew to bea Thiftlc. The fifth is 
called of d iuers chamtleo albus , and Ctrlina , as if they were both but one 
plant • but Fabius Columna hath in my iudgement very learnedly defculed 
that controuerfie, making Carlina to be Ixine ofThcophraftus, and Chtma- 
/«another differing Thiftle, which Gaza tranflateth V trnilago. We call it 
in Englifli, The Carline Thiftle. The other haue their names in their titles, 
as much as is conuenient for this difeourfe. 
TheVertues. 
The firft hath alwaies been vfed Phy fically, as a mollifying herbe among 
others of the like fliraic matter in Glifters, to open the body ; yet Lcbel 
feemeth to make no difference in the vfeof them both (that is, the prickly 
as well as the fmooth.) The Carline Thiftle is thought to bee goodagainft 
poyfons and infeftion. The reft are not vfed l»y any that I know. 
) 
Chap. LXXVIII. 
Fraxine Ha. Baftard Dittany. 
H Auins finiflied thofc pleafmg Thiftles, I come to other plants of more gentle 
handline and firft bring to your confider.ation this baftard Dittany, whereof 
^here are found out two^fp^iall kindes^rhe one with a reddifli.thc other with 
awhitifh flower, and each of thefe hath his diuerfity,as (hall be prefemly declared. 
j _ frixitielit five rubento. Baftard Dittany with a reddifh flower. 
This goodly plant rifeth vp with diuers round, hard, browniih ftalkes, nearerwo 
